Harry Brook praised Kevin Pietersen’s influence after England beat Sri Lanka by 119 runs in the opening T20I at the Utilita Bowl.
England posted a huge 254-4 in Southampton. Captain Brook led the way with an unbeaten 114 from only 49 balls.
Sri Lanka then struggled in the chase. England bowled them out for just 135 to seal a convincing victory.
Tuesday’s match marked Pietersen’s first game since he became England’s white-ball mentor. Head coach Brendon McCullum appointed him ahead of the 2027 Cricket World Cup in South Africa.
Meanwhile, pundits were quick to praise Brook’s display. His latest innings once again showed his ability to make an impact across all three formats.
‘Phenomenal’ Pietersen praised
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Brook discussed Pietersen’s influence.
“He looked at batting slightly differently, in a similar way to me as well. He always wants to put the bowlers under pressure.
“He was a phenomenal player. The way he accessed different areas of the ground made it really tricky to captain and bowl to, and I’m looking forward to conversations about that.
“I mentioned to him about trying to help me read surfaces and using my skills to perform on that pitch as well – not just for white-ball cricket, Test cricket as well.
“Hopefully, he can have a big impact on my career. He’s a hero to a lot of players. We grew up watching him and it’s just awesome to have a man of his calibre in the changing room.”
Brook clearly values Pietersen’s experience. Furthermore, he hopes the former England star can help him develop across both white-ball and Test cricket.
Pundits hail Brook
Meanwhile, Sky Sports pundits Kumar Sangakkara and Eoin Morgan praised Brook after another powerful display from the 27-year-old.
Sangakkara highlighted Brook’s quick reading of the ball. He also praised the batter’s footwork and power.
“He reads length so quickly. He is very light and nimble on his feet; he has oodles of time and devastating power,” the former Sri Lanka captain stated.
“On the back foot against spin, he is very good at hitting over long-on, long-off, even square.
“Then, against the pace, there is the scoop and reverse paddle or punch down the ground for six. He has everything.”
Morgan also praised Brook’s overall ability. The former England captain believes the batter ranks among the country’s best players.
“I think Harry is one of our very best. It is difficult to find a player of recent generations that has Brook’s ability.
“He is coming into his peak years, yet we are seeing absolute genius time and time again in all formats of the game.”
Brook’s performance therefore impressed both former captains. His 114 also gave England a strong start to their T20I campaign.
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